Johannesburg water levels are up, residents can sigh in relief as stats are released stating that the Vaal Dam is currently 81% and rising
The Water and Sanitation Department says Vaal Dam levels have passed the 81% mark and it is the highest it’s been in two years. Gauteng has experienced continuous heavy rainfall since Monday the 20th of February, the rainfall has been almost non-stop and flood warnings have continuously been issued.
The Vaal Dam is at 81.64% today https://t.co/phZgextDzH
— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) February 23, 2017
The Vaal Dam is not the only Dam with rising water levels, Randwater released stats on the 23rd of February stating that the Grootdraai Dam is at 102.3%, the Sterkfontein Dam is at 88.4% and the Bloemhof Dam is at 62.1%. Johannesburg water levels are looking up.
@DWS_RSA 06:00 on 23/02/17 Vaal Dam 81.64% gauge plate very windy up 10.02% last 24hrs inflow falling now 2000.2m3/s Grootdraai dam 103.28% pic.twitter.com/IHxrbJOJyL
— Trevor Balzer (@Trevor_Balzer) February 23, 2017
Water saving methods should still be implemented during these rainy days. If rainwater harvesting is possible, it should be done. Here are a few water saving tips you can easily implement into your daily life,
- Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Taking a five-minute shower a day, instead of a bath, will use a third of the water used bathing in a bath tub, saving up to 400 litres a week.
- Use low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilet mechanisms and water-effcient washing machines.
- Kettles should not be filled to the brim but with just enough water for your needs. This will reduce your electricity bill too.
- Reducing the toilet flush volume alone can save 20% of total water consumption. This can be done by putting a 2-litre cold drink bottle, filled with water and a little sand to add weight, into the cistern.
- Fix a leaking toilet otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.
- Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Every time you flush the toilet, 12 litres of water is used.
- Use “grey water” — used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources to flush your toilet.
- Do not over-fill or excessively backwash your swimming pool.
- Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you have to use a hose, use a sprayer that can be turned off in-between spraying the car. Using a garden hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.
- Every time you boil an egg, save the cooled water for your houseplants. They will benefit from the nutrients released from the shell.
- Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks, for watering gardens.
- Use “grey water” — used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources — to water your garden.
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